Furies of Calderon

In this extraordinary fantasy epic, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Dresden Files leads readers into a world where the fate of the realm rests on the shoulders of a boy with no power to call his own...

For a thousand years, the people of Alera have united against the aggressive and threatening races that inhabit the world, using their unique bond with the furies--elementals of earth, air, fire, water, wood, and metal. But in the remote Calderon Valley, the boy Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting. At fifteen, he has no wind fury to help him fly, no fire fury to light his lamps. Yet as the Alerans' most savage enemy--the Marat horde--return to the Valley, Tavi's courage and resourcefulness will be a power greater than any fury, one that could turn the tides of war...

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This is NOT "The Dresden Files." This is a epic, sprawling, high-fantasy novel that follows the interconnected lives of an ensemble very human and well written characters.

The world building is top rate, but it's the ability of Jim Butcher to create relatable characters and memorable villains is where it shines.

Tavi, a kid living in a back-water hold of a seemingly Roman society, is different than all those around him. While every other person has "Furies" (elemental manifestations of great power), Tavi is the only one in recorded history to posses no "Furies."

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the kingdom, sinister forces seek to upend the First Lord of Alera, and take control of the land for themselves. Little do they know, that all their fates are tied to a small boy. Tavi.

The magic is way overdone, "high fantasy" indeed. I would prefer that the magics be used with more restraint instead we have new abilities scattered around casually. So that whenever the author needs more adornment for a scene he invents the appropriate power. It is not a bad book but I won't recommend it to anyone.. He can write but not in the top tier.

I absolutely loved this whole series! It was an exciting and well planned series and fans of high fantasy will definitely enjoy it. In particular anyone who loved Lord of the Rings or the Belgariad by David Eddings should definitely give this a read.

I enjoyed the book as it is well written, Jim Butcher is a well rounded author but the story world in this book is so used up. Cold northern land invading southern lands protected by one castle and a bunch of farmers? come on..

winegard
Jul 05, 2011

A great entry to this fantastic series and a wonderful introduction to the world of Alera. Could not wait to read the next one.

Another great series by Jim Butcher. I really like the unique twist on magic in these novels. Unlike most fantasy settings where magic is rare, or at least relatively uncommon, Tavi is the only person who *doesn't* have magic of his own. I love how the magic is based on six elements: water, air, fire, earth, metal, and wood. Rather a change from the genre norm.

The comment below about the second half being similar to Helm's Deep is true. However I differ from the critic below as I enjoyed the battle scenes, If you like reading about fights, battles and wars you will enjoy the book once you make it to the end. Moreover, the book succeeds in setting up for the nest 5 books in the series which I found even more enjoyable and epic. Check out my top ten series list to see if your tastes are anything like mine. If they are, the the book.

Knowing how much I have enjoyed his Harry Dresden crime-noir fantasy series, I picked up this first book in his newest and more traditional fantasy series. However, where the Dresden books succeed – with a strong first-person narrative, clever plot-twists, and strong supporting cast – is precisely where Furies of Calderon falters.

The set-up is a good one: An unclear threat to the reign of First Lord Gaius pulls together a disparate cast of characters, many of whom are not quite what they initially seem. However, after a strong first half, the narrative turns into a pale imitation of the Battle of Helm’s Deep from The Two Towers. Now, I do understand that breaking from Tolkien’s unparalleled precedence is hard to do in the fantasy genre. But I did expect better from Butcher. (Perhaps his seeming strength really is derivative, as the Dresden books borrow heavily from older pulp crime fiction writers.) In any event, if I do bother to pick up the next book in this series, I certainly hope it is an improvement.